July 12, 2010

Hi Friends! I hope you had a great weekend - I was a working double duty all weekend with Joe backpacking up in the Unitah's. We had some special fun, a little bit of drama, and I stayed up late sewing too! I have blocks sewn up, and a few rows pinned for a top, hopefully I can show it to you tomorrow.

Originally I had planned to put all the HST blocks at the end and work up to them...but then I decided we should slowly work through them, so I have one more for you this week. I hope you aren't cringing - they really do get easier with practice, and that's just what we are doing! Perfection is good and all, but don't forget to enjoy the process, and learn as you go. And remember - I have been sewing for 20+ years, I've had a bit of practice with straight seams and working with my machine daily the last (almost) 2 years, it all makes a difference. Please don't get frustrated, or down on yourself.

Our first block this week is a traditional favorite - Log Cabin. You can make these so many different ways, I have one side in white and the other scrappy - feel free to play with color placement!

How's yours looking? Now we start adding prints, still working counter clockwise, lay the 5" print length over. Pin and sew. Are you thinking I'm super anal? always pinning..? I find that if I don't pin, the fabrics have give and will shift under the needle without my knowing. When adding these strips, I pin to keep the seam below in place, and two ends, just so that they match up nicely. When we get to the longer strips I add another to keep things in line.

Continuing on, add the 6 1/2" print length.

Back to the white strips, add the 6 1/2" length. Pin, sew and press open.

Still in counter clockwise fashion, add the 8" length.

Now add the print 8" length. Pin, sew and press open.

Now the white, 9 1/2" length.

The final white length is 11". Pin, sew and press open.

Next add the print 11" length.

Add your final print length, at 12 1/2", to finish the block!

I've told you how much I like starch, but I don't think I told you that when I've finished a block I like to set it with a little starch. When complete, AND ONLY THEN, (you don't want to shrink things before you finish) spray a bit on your seam allowances on the back to set. And carefully press. The seams lay nice and flat and I don't have to worry about things getting wonky as I wait to quilt. Not necessary - but something I find helpful :)

Our second block for this week is a mosaic block, my software named it Mosaic, No.5...so uninspired! Let me know if you have a good name for it - I think a quilt full of these would be really fun.

Here's what you need:
From your solid - 8 - 4" squares.
From one print - 2 - 4" squares.
From a second print - 6 - 4 " squares.
If you aren't using a solid, look to the contrast of your fabrics - the difference of light and dark in your fabrics.

On the wrong side of your white or light, mark the diagonal. If you are having trouble, consider also drawing 1/4" away from your center diagonal, for a sewing line.

Pin a white square to each of your printed squares.

I thought I would share where I start things, and how I use my hands to guide the pieces. These things take time to find what works best for you. Having a friend/mom over your shoulder as you learn, reminding you of where your hands are is handy, even if trying in the moment :)

I like to start with my needle down with these blocks so that I can get it as close to the needle as possible before stepping on the gas.

I hold my thread tight, and gently hold the square firmly in the direction you want it to go.

I keep my hand in front of the needle, guiding the square.

And when I reach the other tip, use my finger tips to steady the square as it moves past the needle. Usually I use my other hand on the right side as well, to keep it straight. And I go SLOW when sewing these HST's always.

After sewing your seams on both sides, set with the iron, and cut on the diagonal.

Press your seams open. And trim to 3 1/2", using the diagonal as your guide.

Here's the little pile of scraps, after the fact -

Now we can lay out our block and sew the rows together! Actually there's a lot of options for sewing these together - I have a couple more in the weeks to come - it's fun to play with the triangles and see patterns form.

Lay your blocks over, carefully match the diagonals, pin and sew.

Press your seams open, and lay out the block again to finish sewing the rows together.

Carefully match seams up again and pin - notice that I flipped my top two rows over so that I have a running start to the bundle of seams. It sews easier and things line up better (in my experience).

Sew and press seams open. Lay things out again.

Match seams up, starting in the center, and working out, pinning carefully, the first row to the second, and the third to the fourth.

Sew and press seams open. Then repeat the last step to complete the block!

I really love the effect of this one! What do you think?

Here's my blocks so far - half way through the blocks this week!

**After you make your blocks, post about them on your blog, then post a link here:

Let me know if you have questions and I will answer them in the comments :)

Love both of these blocks, but especially that mosaic! I love working with HST. I'm not sure I've seen that block. I think Mosaic is a good name for it. Someday I would love to try electronic quilt software.

i love both blocks, this will be my first log cabin style block and I am looking forward to it! Will be working on it maybe a little this afternoon but for sure late into the night when I get home! Can't wait to see everyones blocks this week!!

I agree ! thanks for the great tutorials AND the vote of confidence ! I'll be taking my time on the 3 blocks I need to get done ! I DO HAVE A QUESTION : do you use a walking foot to quilt ? I do not have one , but will be shopping at a quilt store in the next few days and have been debating about getting one , since they are kind of pricey ! I will appreciate your thoughts on it ! thanks !

Help! I seem to not be getting how to trim the HST's. My ruler has a 45 degree mark on it, but not anywhere where I can line the piece up to a corner and trim. Should I line up with the 45, and eyeball it as I slide the ruler to where I can cut the corner? Sorry, not sure if it's my equipment or I'm just not grasping it. I want to get it right :)

Just fixed my problem after looking at some of the other ladies finished pieces. I changed to the square ruler you suggested (hadn't taken it out of the bag yet, oops). All fixed! Hope to post the finished ones this evening :)

I loved doing this week's blocks, especially the log cabin. It's the first time I've made that block, and it is now my favorite.I love seeing everyone else's blocks. It's amazing how the choice of color and print change the look completely.

I finally posted about thie QAL. My 7 year old and 9 year old have been doing this as their summer project, and loving it. Me too - it gives me an excuse to play with fabric and my kids at the same time. Thanks so much!

Like I said on my blog....I am riding high what with catching up with the group. I am learning a lot and am satisfied with my progress so far...I know my color choices could have been better, but I will learn. Also using FQ so will have to term these as "scrappy blocks". It's what I needed right now; to push myself into the "unknown".

what's my URL? Mom...ladies she finally has me quilting! My first also. not sure how to blog; but I do Facebook. I'm really stretched quilting, but enjoying it. Have the first 6 done and like them mostly. My points don't match on some but do on others. Elise Shaw, Amy's mom

About Me

Hi, I am Amy! This space is my outlet to share my love for my family and my love for fabric! Quilting is my creative therapy in the midst of our busy household, by sharing here my desire is to encourage and inspire others to find their personal creative outlet. Enjoy!